Agricultural planting apparatus having metering means

ABSTRACT

Planting apparatus for use with a powerized vehicle for depositing seed containing pellets in the ground at precisely selected, spaced positions. The apparatus is powered by the linear advance of the vehicle and removes individual pellets from a bulk supply hopper and deposits the same in a discharge chute.

United States Patent Knapp et al.

2,630,245 3/1953 Maier............ 3,028,713 4/1962 Kennedy et a13,128,011 4/1964 B1eiman......... 3,246,806 4/1966 2,576,693 11/1951[54] AGRICULTURAL PLANTING v APPARATUS HAVING METERING MEANS [72] vInventors: Philip B. Knapp, Lynbrook; Jon R.

McBride, .Ir...

Oeh1er...........

Zogg, Baldwin, both of NY. I I [73] Assignee: Aptek Industries, Inc.,Lynbrook, Examiner-SamuelECoIema" Attorney-Arthur B. Colvin 0 ABSTRACTPlanting apparatus for use with a powerized vehicle [22] Filed: July 23,1970 [21] Appl. No.2 57,440

for depositing seed containing pellets in the ground at ['52] U.S.C1....................................221/265, 221/185 preciselyselected, spaced positions. The apparatus is [51] Int. 59/00 powered bythe linear advance of the vehicle and .221/113, 185, 241, 265 removesindividual pellets from a bulk su and deposits the same in a dischargechute.

pply hopper [58] Field of Search..............

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS I 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures2,621,096 12/1952 Broyleseta1.....................221/265 X PATENTED DEC19 m2 SHEEI 1 OF 4 :"WFQJ FOR; PHILIP a. KNAPP JON R. 2066 BY A TTORNEY5 PATENTED 19 I97? 3. 706, 396

sum 2 OF 4 LNVENTORS PHlLIP B. KNAPP JON R. 2066 ATTORNEYS PATENTED um:19 I972 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVESTORS J QN V S w AG in. "G N KO W 8 WR. A MN PMY H PATENTED um 19 I972 SHEET 0F 4 1 ENTOPLS PHILIP B. KNAPP I JON R.ZOGG AGRI CULTURAL PLANTING APPARATUS HAVING METERING MEANS As conduciveto an understanding of the invention, there is disclosed in my copendingapplication Ser. No. 781,105, filed Dec. 4, 1968 and entitledEnvironmental Seed Cell, a seed cell or pellet comprising a seed encasedwithin a mass or charge of environmental material, such as nutriment,etc., which material is calculated to foster proper germination andrapid growth in the initial developmental stages of the plant.

In addition to nurturing growth in the earlier stages, the seed pellet,containing a single seed, prevents overplanting (i.e., the depositing oftoo many seeds in a given area) and the attendant requirement forsubsequent thinning. In short, the seed cell or pellet provides a meansfor enabling a planter accurately to locate one plant with respect toadjacent plants, with an extremely high germination percentage andinitial growth rate. 4

The present invention relates'to a planting apparatus especiallyintended for use with seed pellets of the type described which willenable the user on a large or commercial scale, automatically to plantthe seed pellets in accordance with a predetermined desired spacing.

With the device of the present invention, the planter may scientificallydetermine the desired spacing and set up the apparatus to correspondtherewith, with the assurance that seed pellets from the bulk supplywill be regularly distributed without any substantial likelihood ofmissing a position at which a seed is to be planted or over-planting,i.e., depositing two or more seed pellets at a location intended toaccommodate only a single pellet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention may be summarized as directed toplanting apparatus for the automatic distribution of seed pellets. Theapparatus is particularly intended to be towed by a vehicle, such as atractor, one or more such planting apparatuses being drawn by thetractor.

The apparatus includes a bulk supply hopper and a distributor turret,which turret is rotated by-a power takeoff which preferably derives itsmotive force from a friction wheel drawn across the ground. By thisarrangement, the distribution pattern or spacing is rendered independentof the absolute speed of the towing vehicle, being dependent instead onthe distances traced by the wheel. I

The turret includes one or more guide channels for supporting incolumnar array a series of seed pellets drawn from the bulk supplyhopper. The columns of pellets are sequentially scanned across anopening leading to a distribution or discharge chute, a single pelletbeing dropped through the opening and chute as each column is scannedthereover.

A metering blade is positioned to intersect the column as the columnscans and registers with the opening, so as to prevent other pellets inthe column beside the lowermost pellet from falling through the chute.

It is important in apparatus of this sort that the columns becontinuously filled since it is obvious that if a column is empty or ifthe pellets in the column are not free to shift vertically as the sameis scanned over the discharge chute, a pellet will not be dropped at adesired location. The blade provides the additional function ofagitating the pellets in the columns by vertically oscillating thepellets in the column, to clear any possible jams and to assure that thepellets in a column are permitted to travel freely therein.

Further, the linear spacing of the pellets one from another may bereadily varied by providing an apparatus with a multiplicity of columnsand plugging or blocking selected ones of the columns where greaterspacing is desired, or unblocking and freeing the columns where a closerspacing is desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide feedingmechanism for serially depositing seed pellets at predetermined selectedplanting intervals.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thetype described in which-the intervals may be precisely controlled and inwhich the intervals will be independent of the absolute speed of thetowing vehicle or tractor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of theclass described in which the seed pellets are arranged in verticalcolumns and the columns are agitated in a vertical direction, todisplace a pellet in the hopper at the column entrance which mightotherwise impede the filling of the column and to free any jams whichmay occur in the columns themselves.

A still further object of the invention is to provide planting apparatusfor seed pellets, cells or the like wherein pellets are led from a bulksupply and deposited at predetermined spaced intervals.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of the several features of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a'tractor equipped with four plantingapparatuses in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a single planting unit, shownin conjunction with suspension apparatus linking the same to the drawbar of a tractor;

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the parts prior to assembly;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 4-4 ofFIG. 2, with parts broken away to show details of construction;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a magnified sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;and

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. I a tractor 10having a trailing tow bar 11, to which bar are linked the independentplanter assemblies 12 (four in number being shown) which are the subjectof the present invention.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the transverse spacing of the planters 12 alongthe bar 11 may be modified by the use of adjustable clamp assemblies 13which link the planters to the bar. It will be readily appreciated byanyone familiar with agricultural machinery that more or fewer plantersmay be fixed to the bar, that bars of greater or lesser widths may beemployed, etc.

The clamp 13 is connected to a suspension frame 14 of conventionaldesign and not forming any part of the present invention. The suspensionframe 14 includes a main strut 15, carrying at its trailing terminal enda traction wheel 16 which wheel, when drawn across the ground, providesmotive power for the Operation of theplanter 12.

The suspension 14 permits an articulation of the strut 15 relative tothe draw bar 11in known manner,to enable the traction wheel to traverseirregularities in the ground surface while still maintaining the wheelin frictional connection with the ground.

The strut 15 and frame assembly 14 fixedly carry a support strut 17, theupper end of which includes a horizontally directed hinge eye member 18.

A hopper base plate or casting 19 includes a pair of depending hingeears 20,20, which are provided with hinge apertures 21, 21 adapted toalign with the transverse aperture 22 in the eye 18.

The hopper base plate 19 is provided with a locking retainer fork 23 ata position substantially diametrically opposite the ears 20, the forkincluding an access slot 24. The fork 23 is locked to a draw strut 25forming a forward part of the suspension frame 14, as by a bolt member26 (see FIG. 5).

The upper surface 27 of the draw strut 25 and the lower surface 28 ofthe fork 23 are complementally bevelled so as to provide a flushinter-engagement whereby the'bolt 26 may clamp the strut to the fork insuch manner that these parts are maintained in interfitting engagement.

The connection of the plate 19 to the frame is in all respectsconventional and forms no part of the present invention.

A closure disc 29 ismaintained beneath the hopper base plate 19, thediscincluding a pair of hinge ears 30,

30 having transversely directed apertures 31, 31. In the retainer flange34. A spring locking finger is secured as with machine screw 36 into anaperture 37 in the base plate 19. The spring member 35 includes a baseleg 38 flush mounted against the undersurface of the plate 19 and has atits opposite end a latch leg 39. In the closed position of theapparatus, the latch leg 39 underlaps the flange 34 to lock the closuredisc against pivotal movement relative to the plate 19.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that when the bolt26 is loosened and released from the slot 24 in the retainer fork 23,the base plate 19, on which is mounted the hopper assembly 40, may bepivoted about the axis of the hinge pin 32. Similarly, in the pivotedposition of the hopper, the retainer spring 35 may be retracted torelease the latch leg 39 from under the flange 34, to permit a furtherpivotal movement of the closure disc relative to the plate 19 about theaxis of the said pin 32.

As previously noted, the base plate 19 carries the hopper assembly 40,which assembly includes a container member 41. The container 41 ispreferably spun or otherwise interfitted over the periphery of the baseThe closure disc 29 includes a raised central frustoconic portion 43having an interior drive access aperture 44, the frusto-conic portion 43and drive aperture 44 being formed concentrically as respects theaperture 42 in the base plate.

The hopper assembly includes a floor portion defined in part byan-inwardly inclined frusto-conic annulus 45 which-optionally butpreferably is formed of a plastic material having a low coefficient offriction, such as Teflon or nylon. The annulus 45 is fixed, as bymachine screws 46, to three equally spaced mounting blocks 47. Theblocks 47 are secured by machine screws 48 and lock washers 49 to theinterior of the container 41. I

The container 41 is provided with access apertures 50 for the passagetherethrough of the machine screws 48, the access apertures 50preferably being elongated in a vertical direction to providea degree ofvertical adjustability of the blocks 47 and, hence, the inclined annulusskirt 45.

A turret assembly 51 is rotatably mounted in the bot tom of the hopper.The turret assemblySl, which is preferably in the form of a solidcasting, includes a conical upper portion 52 and a generally cylindricallower portion 53. The turret 51 includes a depending annular shoulderportion 54 which is slidably seated on or adjacent the closure disc 29.

The side edges of the turret, in the cylindrical portion 53 thereof,include a plurality of outwardly opening, vertically extending milledslots or guide channels 55 which, as will be appreciated from theensuingdescription, form receptacles for vertical columns of seed pellets P.

As best seen from FIGS. 5 and 7, the lowermost edge 56 of the conicalupper portion 52 ofthe turret ter minates at a point slightly above thelower terminal edge 57 of the plastic annular skirt 45. As seen from thenoted figures, this disposition of the parts facilitates the entry ofpellets P stored in bulk supply in the hopper into the uppermost ends ofthe guide channels 55. The trailing edges 55' of the slots 55 also serveto agitate and clear any pellets which may be wedged at the annularloading area adjacent the lower edge of skirt 45.

A pair of annular metal rings 58 and 59 are fixed to the exterior of thecylindrical portion 53 of the turret 51. The upper annular band 58 issecured by machine screws 60 about the periphery of the turret, theaxial extent of the band 58 being less than the height of thecylindrical portion 53 of the turret. It will thus be observed thatthose portions of the band 58 which overlap the channel slots 55 definethe outer limits of the said channels or slots.

The lower annular band 59 is of substantially less height or axialdimension than the band 58 and is secured about the periphery of thecylindrical portion 53 of the turret adjacent the lowermost edgethereof.

The upper edge ,61 of the lower band 59 is spaced a slight distancebelow the lower edge 62 of the upper band 58, thus to define an annularaccess slot 63.

The casting comprising the turret 51 is provided with an annular slot 64which registers with the slot 63 defined between. the two bands 58, 59,for purposes which will appear hereafter.

The turret assembly 51 is driven in a rotary direction within the hopperby means of a power take-off from the traction wheel 16. The tractionwheel 16 rotates a drive shaft 65 journalled on the strut 15, forrotation about a horizontal axis. Hopper drive shaft 66 is similarlyjournalled on the strut 15. The shafts 65 and 66 carry gears 67, 68,respectively, linked by a drive chain 69.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that as the tractionwheel 16 is rotated, a concomitant rotary movement is imparted to thegear 68 and shaft 66.

The shaft 68 carries a turretdrive gear 70, having teeth meshing withthe teeth of a depending crown gear 71. The crown gear 71 includes avertically directed stem 72, which stem is received within acomplemental cylindrical recess 73 formed in the undersurface of theturret casting 51. It will be understood that the stem 72 is slidablyreceived within the recess 73, the stem including at its uppermost end74 a spacer screw 75 which is threaded downwardly into the stem. Theenlarged head portion of the spacer screw 75 bears against a dependingsurface 76 forming the lower end of the recess, thus to provide a rangeof vertical adjust-v ment of the turret 51 with respect to the closuredisc 29, in the event that pellets of different heights are to bedistributed.

In this connection it will be appreciated that the engagement of thegears 70 and 71 establishes an essentially fixed vertical position forthe stem 72 and that an upward or downward adjustment of the screw.75provides the noted degree of vertical variability from the referencepoint defined by the inter-engagement of the gears.

The crown gear assembly 71 includes laterally directed drive vanes 77,four in number being shown, which are employed to transmit rotary motionto a drive plate 78 which is floatingly interposed between casting andthe frusto-conic portion 43 of the closure disc 29. v

The drive plate 78 includes a pair of depending drive teeth or ears 79which, as best seen from FIG. 7, lie in the path of the vanes 77. Thus,rotary motion of the stem 72 and vanes 77 will induce a concomitantmotion in the plate 78 through the medium of the ears 79, whilenonetheless permitting (by reason of the vertical overlap of the earsand vanes) a degree of vertical relative movement between the saidparts.

The drive plate 78 includes a plurality of drive notches 80 in theperiphery thereof. A driving connection is effected between the casting51 and the drive plate 78 by a pair of keying inserts 81 which are heldto the casting 51 by machine screws 82 inserted into complemental,tapped apertures 83 in the casting.

It will be understood that the inserts 81 extend into the notches 80 andprovide for a limited vertical movement between the aforesaid plate andcasting, while still maintaining a driving connection between the notedparts.

The base plate 19 is provided with a radially directed recess 84, withinwhich is held a metering knife blade 85. The blade 85 is free to floatwithin the recess 84, the radial innermost edge 86 of the bladeprojecting beyond the recess and into the registering slots 63, 64 inthe casting 51. Since the configuration of the blade, in plan,substantially matches the cross sectional configuration of the recess,the blade will remain essentially stationery by reason of its enteringinto the slots 63 and 64. 7

It will be appreciated that the recess 84 provides a degree of verticalclearance, to permit a limited move ment of the blade in an upwarddirection.

The operation of the device will be evident from the precedingdescription. I

In use, the hopper container 41 is loaded with pellets or pills P. Asthe tractor is driven, rotation of the traction wheel is communicated tothe gear in the manner previously described, inducing a rotation of thecrown gear 71 about a vertical axis. The rotation of the crown gearinduces a complemental rotation of the floater drive plate through theinteraction of the vanes 77 and ears 79 of the plate.

I The plate, in turn, is drivingly connected with the inserts 81,causing the turret assembly to rotate within the hopper.

Pellets or seed cells within the hopper gravitate to the junctionbetween the lowermost edge 57 of the annular skirt 45 and the lowermostedge 56 of the conical portion 52 of the turret casting 51. Withrotation of the casting, pellets are progressively received within thevertically directed slots 55 formed in the outer peripheral edge of thecasting and fill the said slots in vertical columns, the lowermost pillor pellet of each column riding on an annular track portion 88 adjacentthe periphery of the closure disc 29.

. As the turret is rotated, the slots 55 are progressively shifted intoregistry with a discharge opening 87 formed in the closure disc 29,whereupon the lowermost pellet P falls through the discharge opening 87,which is preferably communicated with a discharge guide chute 89 toassure that the discharged pellet does not deviate in a transversedirection after its discharge (under such influences as wind, etc.).

It will be appreciated that the discharge opening 87 is in verticallyspaced but registering relation to a portion of the blade member in therecess 84, the blade including a lead edge 85' downstream of theopening. Since the blade 85 intersects the columns of pellets beforesaid columns are in registry with the discharge aperture 87, it will beappreciated that those pellets in the column located above the lowermostpellet P will be prevented from flowing through the discharge opening.But the pellet=(or pellets) below the blade will fall through the plate29. Thus, it is assured that only one pellet or pill (or a predeterminedselected number) may be expelled from each column as the column scansthe discharge opening 87.

The blade 85 serves the further important function of agitating orvertically lifting the pellets above the discharged pellet. This liftingaction occurs as a result of an impingement of the edge of the bladeagainst the pellet directly above the discharged pellet P as each columnof pellets is scanned past the blade. As each column passes the blade,the second pellet P" in such column drops clear of the surface of theblade and decends to the track portion 88 in a position to be dischargedthe next time it scans the discharge opening.

From the foregoing it is clear that the blade serves the double functionof assuring that only the lowermost pellet will be released andagitating the pellets in each column, to guard against jams or likeinterference with regular pellet feed.

' It will be observed that the height of the blade within the recess isautomatically adjusted in accordance with the vertical adjustment of theturret by the screw 75 since the height of the blade within the recess84 is controlled by the height of the slots 63, 64 within which theblade rides. I

It will accordingly be understood that as the tractor proceeds acrossthe ground, a pellet is released from each planter apparatus in aselected spaced relationship, both laterally (by reason of the sidewisealignment of the planters on the two bar) and longitudinally. Aspreviously explained, the longitudinal spacing is independent of theabsolute vehicle speed since the deposit of pellets is a function of thelinear distance tracked by the friction wheel 16.

The apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate pellets of different sizes,should this be desired, by raising or lowering the spacing of the turret51 from the closure disc 29 inthe manner hereinabove described. It willbe appreciated that if the spacing of the turret and closure disc isincreased, the spacing of the blade 85 from the closure disc willlikewise be increased and the blade will thus intersect the column at anincreased spacing from the closure disc.

The above described height adjustment feature may also be used to planttwo or more pellets at each given pass across the discharge opening 87,it being obvious that if the blade 85 intersects a column between thesecond and third pellets, both the first and second pellets will bepermitted to drop through the opening.

Should it be desired to vary the longitudinal spacing between adjacentpellets, it is merely necessary for the user to deploy plugs or stoppersof some form in the upper ends of selected ones of the slots orguideways 55 in the turret. By this means, certain ones of the guidechutes are deactivated and the pellets will be released at increasedspacings.

The hinged connection between the various parts enables the same to bereadily disassembled for cleaning, reloading, Clearing, etc.

From the foregoing it will be evident that by the present inventionthere is provided a planter device wherein seed pellets or cells may beaccurately deposited in a predetermined selected relationship.

The apparatus is flexible in that simple adjustments may be made whichwill modify the longitudinal .spacing, the accommodation of varioussizes of pellets and the depositing of a predetermined number of pelletsat one location.

The apparatus is of simple yet rugged design, and may be readily adaptedfor use with existing towing machinery,-such as the standard tractortoolbar.

For purposes of compliance with the patent laws, a preferred embodimentof the invention has been illustrated. However, theillustratedembodiment is not to be construed in a [imitative sense, andit will be readily recognized that the designs thereof may be variedwithout departure from the spirit of the invention. The invention is,accordingly, to be broadly construed within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A planting apparatus for the planting of seed pellets comprising abulk hopper, a rotatable distributor turret having an upper surfaceformin the floor of said hopper, drive means for rotating sai turret, atleast one vertical guide channel means formed in said turret forreceiving pellets from said hopper and supporting them in columnararray, an annular slot formed in said turret intersecting said guidechannel means providing radial access to said channel means, a closuredisc blocking the lower end of said guide channel means, a dischargeopening in said disc positioned to register with said lower end of saidchannel once during each revolution of said turret, metering blade meansin registry with and vertically spaced from said opening extendingradially into said slot to intersect said column in said channel forpreventing flow of said pellets above said channel means to said openingin said registering position, and means for variably spacing said turretfrom said closure disc to thus automatically, variably space said blademeans from said closure disc, thereby to enable the feeding of pelletsof a variety of sizes, or a plurality of pellets.

1 I" I l l l060ll 0607

1. A planting apparatus for the planting of seed pellets comprising abulk hopper, a rotatable distributor turret having an upper surfaceforming the floor of said hopper, drive means for rotating said turret,at least one vertical guide channel means formed in said turret forreceiving pellets from said hopper and supporting them in columnararray, an annular slot formed in said turret intersecting said guidechannel means providing radial access to said channel means, a closuredisc blocking the lower end of said guide channel means, a dischargeopening in said disc positioned to register with said lower end of saidchannel once during each revolution of said turret, metering blade meansin registry with and vertically spaced from said opening extendingradially into said slot to intersect said column in said channel forpreventing flow of said pellets above said channel means to said openingin said registering position, and means for variably spacing said turretfrom said closure disc to thus automatically, variably space said blademeans from said closure disc, thereby to enable the feeding of pelletsof a variety of sizes, or a plurality of pellets.